Nixa High School’s John Gholson, Blue Eye’s Riley Arnold, the Springfield Catholic Girls’ Golf Team and the Glendale Boys’ Swim Team walked away with the Athlete and Team awards. year in the Elliott Lodging Athletic Commission Awards presented by Harry Cooper Supply.
Held Tuesday night before a crowd of nearly 900 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, the Springfield Sports Commission and Missouri Sports Hall of Fame recognized 222 student-athletes and 14 teams as Southwest Missouri’s best for the year. school year 2021-2022.
Gholson was selected Male Athlete of the Year after winning All-State in football, placing third in wrestling and providing a big bat for Nixa’s baseball team.
Arnold repeated as Female Athlete of the Year for winning All-State in volleyball, basketball, and track and field, as well as a fourth straight state championship in cross country.
Springfield Catholic won its third straight state championship, this time storming Class 3 last fall. Springfield Catholic finished 37 under par to win the tag team title by 90 strokes. Reagan Zibilski won his second straight state title with a 139 over two days, while Lyla Louderbaugh (149) placed third and Kyleigh Pfitzner (154) placed fourth.
The Glendale Boys’ Swim captured its third consecutive Class 1 State Championship with a thrilling 240-220 win over second-placed Parkway West. Glendale won three individual state titles and one relay, including a pair of state titles from Lucas Chadwell in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle races.
All finalists can be found at mosportshalloffame.com.
Meanwhile, the SCA has honored five for the Inspiration Awards:
The Inspiration Awards were:
- Dadeville cross-country runner Libby Lakey, who qualified for the Class 1 cross-country meet last fall after experiencing a long-haul Covid that wiped out her second season
- Belle Fletcher, who lost the use of her left arm and left hand to a mysterious illness, missed most of the volleyball season but managed to return to club volleyball in January.
- The late Ben Holder and the Miller High School girls’ basketball team. The team raised $12,000 and donated it to Camp Barnabas in honor of Holder, who suffered from cerebral palsy and died at age 17 in January.
- Lawrence Green and Skyline High School Athletics. The Urbana community rallied around Green, a team bus driver who battled cancer in 2021. Athletes, parents and administrators raised money for him and his family to see a Cardinals series -Cubs at Wrigley Field, and he inspired the volleyball team’s run to the Finals. Four.
A full list of winners from Tuesday’s ceremony is below:
Sports Commission Awards Finalists
GIRLS TENNIS
Brynley Brotherton and Esther Choe, Kickapoo High School
BOYS SWIMMING AND DIVING
Lucas Chadwell, Glendale High School
GOLF GIRLS
Reagan Zibilski, Springfield Catholic High School
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Brayden Kantola, West Plains High School
Jordan Kantola, West Plains High School
CROSS COUNTRY BOYS
Tanner Talley, New Alliance Academy
SOFTBALL
Madeline McCall, McDonald County High School
BOYS SOCCER
Alex Spence, Glendale High School
VOLLEYBALL
Syndey Golden, Nixa High School
FOOTBALL – LINERS
Tristan Wilson, high school in Lebanon
FOOTBALL – LINEBACKERS AND DEFENSIVE BACKS
Austin Wilkerson, Lamar High School
FOOTBALL – OFFENSIVE SKILLS POSITIONS
Luke Gall, Carthage High School
GIRLS SWIMMING AND DIVING
Ashlyn Moore, Kickapoo High School
Maggie Moore, New Alliance Academy
GIRLS WRESTLING
Quincey Glendenning, Lebanon High School
BOYS WRESTLING – REDUCED WEIGHTS
Zan Fugitt, Nixa High School
BOYS WRESTLING – TOP WEIGHTS
Eli Zar, Neosho High School
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Bella Fontleroy, Kickapoo High School
BOYS BASKETBALL
Garrett Davault, Norwood High School
BOYS TENNIS
Caden Lingenfelser, Willard High School
GOLF BOYS
Aiden Asby, Bolivar High School
GIRLS ON-PITCH EVENTS
Taylor Mayo, Kickapoo High School
GIRLS TRACK
Alanza Montez, Carl Junction High School
FIELD EVENTS BOYS
Donovyn Fowler, Joplin High School
BOYS TRACK
Daelen Ackley, El Dorado Springs High School
GIRLS SOCCER
Reilly Heman, Glendale High School
BASEBALL
Ben Smith, Springfield Catholic
BASS FISHING
Caden Kowal & Reece Waters, Camdenton High School
GIRLS PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Ashton Judd, West Plains High School
PERFORMANCE BOY OF THE YEAR
Greenwood High School Boys Basketball
GIRLS TEAM OF THE YEAR
Springfield Catholic High School Girls Golf
BOYS TEAM OF THE YEAR
Glendale High School Boys Swimming
GIRL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Riley Arnold, Blue Eye High School
BOY ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
John Gholson, Nixa High School
